September 10, 2012

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROCK COUNTY FOLK SYMPOSIUM 2012

Samantha Glass (Madison, WI), Cains & Abels (Chicago, IL), Golden Donna (Madison, WI), Control (Madison, WI), Finite, Pioneer (Madison, WI), Sleepy Lesbos (Madison, WI), Count This Penny (Madison, WI), Austin Hays, Crane Your Swan Neck (Madison, WI), Chants (Madison, WI), Double Ewes (Janesville, WI)
September 2nd, 2012
Rock County Folk Symposium in Janesville, Wisconsin

For the past three years, the shores along the Rock River reverberated with twangy strings, orchestral indie and atmospheric psychedelia each Labor Day weekend with Rock County Folk Symposium. This has grown from a festival for friends and musicians into something of a showcase of the fine talent that bubbles throughout Wisconsin, mostly between Lakes Mendota and Monona in Madison. Limited numbers of tickets and structured parking showed the evolutions of this welcoming celebration of camping, craft breweries and song.

This year brought back Pioneer, Austin Hays and Double Ewes, along with some newcomers. Most notably, Finite performed their first, excellent show; a blend of catchy synths and varied tempo’d indie that will only grow and improve in time. Golden Donna continued with College-esque electro all following a more relaxing afternoon of folk and songwriter with a dabbing of rock here and there. Oh, and tree lanterns, baby snapping turtles and a giant deer tree.

Many thanks to Furthermore Beer for providing some of the nourishment this year-I definitely liked what I tasted.